Amazon Credit Card Requirements
Amazon offers two credit cards through Chase (formerly Synchrony for the store card): the Amazon Prime Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Store Card. The Prime Visa is a full Visa card that works everywhere. The Store Card only works on Amazon.com. Both have different requirements and different perks.
Here’s what you need for each.
Minimum Credit Score Requirements
Amazon Prime Visa Signature Card
- Minimum score: ~670 FICO
- Best approval odds: 700+
- Requires Amazon Prime membership for 5% back
- Works everywhere Visa is accepted
Amazon Store Card
- Minimum score: ~640 FICO
- Best approval odds: 660+
- No Prime membership required
- Only works on Amazon.com
When you apply on Amazon’s site, you may be shown both options. If your credit is strong enough for the Visa, you’ll see that offer. If not, you may be offered the Store Card instead.
What the Issuer Looks At
Beyond credit score, the card issuer evaluates:
Payment history. Consistent on-time payments matter. Late payments in the last 12 months hurt your chances significantly.
Credit utilization. Using too much of your available credit signals risk. Keep it under 30%. Our credit utilization guide explains the math.
Income. Self-reported during the application. Higher income relative to your debts improves your odds.
Existing card relationships. If you already have a Chase card in good standing, that helps for the Prime Visa.
Recent applications. Multiple recent credit applications make lenders nervous. Space them out.
Amazon account history. This isn’t officially confirmed, but long-standing Amazon accounts with consistent purchase history may factor into approval decisions.
Amazon Prime Visa Benefits
5% back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods. This is the headline perk. Requires an active Prime membership. Without Prime, the rate drops to 3%.
2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and transit. Solid everyday category.
1% back on everything else. Standard rate for non-category purchases.
No annual fee. The card itself has no fee. Amazon Prime costs $139/year (or $14.99/month), but that’s separate.
No foreign transaction fees. Good for international travel and purchases.
Travel and purchase protection. Trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay coverage, and purchase protection on eligible items.
Amazon Store Card Benefits
5% back on Amazon.com purchases. Same rate as the Visa, but only on Amazon.
Special financing. 0% APR for 6, 12, or 24 months on qualifying Amazon purchases over $150. This is the big differentiator from the Visa card.
No annual fee. Free to hold.
Amazon Prime not required. You get 5% back whether or not you have Prime (though Prime membership gives you access to more Amazon benefits).
How to Apply
- Go to Amazon.com and navigate to the credit card page
- Click “Apply Now” for the card you want
- The issuer pulls your credit (hard inquiry)
- Instant decision in most cases
- If approved, you can use the card on Amazon immediately with a temporary account number
What to Do If Denied
Find out why. The issuer must disclose the reason. Common reasons: credit score too low, high utilization, recent late payments, too many recent applications.
Check your reports. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and pull free reports. Look for errors. Our credit report errors guide shows what to check.
Dispute errors. Credit Booster AI scans your reports, identifies mistakes, and generates dispute letters. Removing inaccurate negatives can boost your score quickly.
Pay down balances. Get utilization under 30%. Under 10% is even better.
Wait 3 to 6 months. Build positive history. Make every payment on time. Then try again.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Secured. If you don’t qualify for the regular Visa, Amazon offers a secured version. You put down a deposit and still earn rewards. Good way to build credit while shopping on Amazon.
Secured credit cards. General-purpose secured cards build credit without tying you to one retailer. Check our secured credit cards guide for the best options.
Amazon gift cards. Not a credit solution, but you can buy Amazon gift cards with cash or debit and still shop normally. Use the time to build credit.
Tips to Get Approved
- Get your FICO above 680. Comfortable zone for the Visa. Above 650 for the Store Card
- Keep utilization below 30%. Lower is better
- No late payments for 6+ months. Clean recent history
- Limit recent credit applications. Space them by 3+ months
- Report all income. Side jobs, freelance, everything legitimate
- Fix credit report errors first. Dispute before applying
The Bottom Line
The Amazon Prime Visa is accessible with good credit (670+), and the Amazon Store Card works with fair credit (640+). Both offer excellent value for Amazon shoppers. If your credit isn’t there yet, build it first and the cards will be waiting.
Credit Booster AI can help you identify what’s holding your score back and create a roadmap to get approved. Check JoinCreditClub.com for free monitoring and CreditBooster.com for professional help.
Fix your credit. Then shop smarter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do you need for the Amazon Prime Visa?
The Amazon Prime Visa Signature Card typically requires a FICO score of 670 or higher. Best approval odds are at 700+. You also need an active Amazon Prime membership to earn the full 5% back on Amazon purchases.
Can I get the Amazon Store Card with fair credit?
Possibly. The Amazon Store Card has lower requirements than the Prime Visa, with approvals seen at scores as low as 620 to 640. But it only works on Amazon.com. If your score is below 620, focus on building credit first.
What's the difference between the Amazon Visa and the Store Card?
The Amazon Prime Visa Signature Card works everywhere Visa is accepted and earns 5% on Amazon with Prime, 2% at restaurants and gas, 1% elsewhere. The Amazon Store Card only works on Amazon.com and offers financing options like 0% APR on purchases over $150.
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